Early Examples Of Motion Graphics And Animation

The early examples of motion graphics and animation are found in the paleolithic cave paintings. In these motion graphics and animation’s early examples the animals are represented with multiple legs in superimposed or overlying positions, which is clearly trying to showcase through the element of perception of motion.

Another example of early use of motion graphics and animation is found in an ancient old earthen bowl that was founded in Iran in Shahr-i Sokhta. This ancient earthen bowl has got engraved on it total of five images of a goat painted along the sides. This has been claimed to be early examples of motion graphics and animation. However, in real sense it can’t be so because since no equipment existed to show the images in motion, such a series of images cannot be called animation in a true sense of the word.

The phenakistoscope, praxinoscope, along with various common flip books are also considered as early examples of motion graphics and animation. These were early popular animation devices which were created during the 1800s, while a Chinese zoetrope-kind of device was also developed in 180 AD. These devices were used to produce movement from sequential drawings by making use of technological means, however animation did not really develop much further until the advent of cinematography.

Reviewing several of the early examples of motion graphics and animation, it can be concluded the credit of being the creator of art of animation can’t be given to any single person because there are so many people working on different projects producing different kinds of animation all around the same time.

However, early use of motion graphics and animation in special-effect films was carried on by Georges Méliès. He was among those persons who used animation with his technique. Another of the motion graphics and animation’s early examples
Is that of an English short by Arthur Melbourne-Cooper called Matches: An Appeal (1899), this was developed for the Bryant and May Matchsticks company, and comprised of stop-motion animation of wired-together matches writing a patriotic call to action on a blackboard.